The latest balloon festival in memory of a Towy Valley dad took place on the weekend.

This annual Ar Y Gorwel hot air balloon festival took place over the bank holiday weekend in the Llandovery area.

South Wales Guardian: Ian Jones checking inside a balloonIan Jones checking inside a balloon (Image: Stuart Ladd)

Several hot air balloonists took off across the Towy Valley, adding colour to the early morning and evening skies, although the launches were weather permitting.

The balloonists, on Saturday morning, began their journey from the National Trusts Dinefwr Country Park in Llandeilo, with Newton House creating a perfect background for photos.

South Wales Guardian: Youngsters help to keep the balloons controlled before launchYoungsters help to keep the balloons controlled before launch (Image: Stuart Ladd)

Light winds carried them towards Llandovery, floating over picturesque towns such as Llanwrda and Llansadwrn.

They combined sport with spectacle, making an impressive appearance ahead of Llandovery RFC's Premiership semi-final match that evening, which ended in a thrilling victory over Cardiff.

This year, the Ar Y Gorwel balloon festival, which translates to "On the Horizon", aimed to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.

South Wales Guardian: The balloons were launched from Dinefwr ParkThe balloons were launched from Dinefwr Park (Image: Stuart Ladd)

The festival is a tribute to Arwel Davies.

Mr. Davies was a revered businessman, former rugby player, and coach at Llandovery RFC.

Known for his love of hot air ballooning, he died in a road traffic collision in July 2021 at just 40 years old.

Mr. Davies and his best friend, Ian Jones, were keen hot air balloonists, inspired by Mr. Davies' father, Eirian.

The friends had dreamt of reviving the much-loved annual Llandovery Hot Air Balloon Festival, which was abandoned due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak and never restarted.

South Wales Guardian: Firing up the burnersFiring up the burners (Image: Stuart Ladd)

Though they had hoped to relaunch the festival in 2020, covid-19 brought their plans to a standstill.

In the wake of Mr. Davies’s passing, Mr. Jones and his wife, Louise, decided to pursue the dream their friend had left behind.

They partnered with Laura Davies, Arwel’s wife, to keep the dream afloat.

In 2022, the first Ar y Gorwel festival was held while receiving overwhelming support from family, friends, and the community.

The revived tradition promises to keep Mr. Davies' spirit alive, highlighting the father, friend, and balloonist on the horizon of Towy Valley’s skies.

South Wales Guardian: The balloons were launched over the bank holiday weekendThe balloons were launched over the bank holiday weekend (Image: Stuart Ladd)